Astorino's offer to Cuomo: More tax returns in exchange for a TV debate

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino today said he would release four more years of tax returns if Gov. Andrew Cuomo would agree to a one-on-one TV debate.

Democrats wants Astorino to release five years of income-tax returns (he's released one year); Astorino wants Cuomo in a one-on-one TV debate (Cuomo agreed to a heads-up radio debate, then Astorino backed out when Cuomo wouldn't agree to have it televised.)

"At the same time, I have been asking you to debate me one-on-one on television. It's not much to ask," Astorino wrote in a letter to Cuomo.

"Television debates have been an established part of the political process in America since the 1960's. In the Connecticut governor's race, seven -- seven -- one-on-one TV debates between the major party candidates have been scheduled. Four already have taken place."

In 2010, when you ran for governor, you refused to release your tax returns. You also refused to release tax returns as New York State Attorney General.

Now, four years later, you have found religion: You are airing negative television ads criticizing me for releasing 2013 tax returns, plus four years of financial disclosure forms, which a.) have always been available to the public, and b.) are more financially transparent than tax returns themselves.

You suggest I am hiding something in my past returns.

At the same time, I have been asking you to debate me one-on-one on television. It's not much to ask. Television debates have been an established part of the political process in America since the 1960's. In the Connecticut governor's race, seven -- seven -- one-on-one TV debates between the major party candidates have been scheduled. Four already have taken place.

I suggest you are hiding from full and democratic public discourse.

So how about this: I agree to release four more years of tax returns, redundantly I might add -- the information is already available on my financial disclosure forms -- and you agree to one of the five one-on-one televised debates I agreed to a month ago.

Is it a deal?

New Yorkers pay the highest taxes in America; 40% more than the average American. Doesn't that buy them the right to see their candidates for governor answer a few questions?

I think so. What say you?

Sincerely,

Rob Astorino

Westchester County Executive

P.S. In case you haven't seen it, here is a link to today's New York Times editorial calling for one-on-one televised debates between us. It's a good read.